Apple has released the iOS 18.4 release candidate (RC) version, giving developers and public beta testers a glimpse of the new features coming to iPhones soon. The official public release is expected in April. The update includes eight new emojis, including a tired emoji with bags under its eyes.
Google first unveiled these emojis in September, and they are now available on iPhones. iOS 18.4 also introduces priority notifications for users with Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhones. This feature allows users to prioritize certain notifications directly on the Lock Screen.
To enable this, users can go to Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications and select which apps should have priority. The Control Center has been enhanced with new Apple Intelligence features. Users can add these controls by swiping down from the top-right corner, tapping the plus sign, and selecting the new Apple Intelligence & Siri controls, such as Talk to Siri, Type to Siri, and Visual Intelligence.
Visual Intelligence can also be accessed from the iPhone’s Action Button by setting it up in Settings > Action Button.
iOS 18.4 RC new features
The Image Playground app now includes a new art style called Sketch, which creates images that look like sketches while maintaining a full range of colors.
This joins the existing Animation and Illustration styles. Control Center now includes controls for ambient music, allowing users to play background music with options like Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing. Users can customize these by tapping the control and selecting from available playlists.
The Wallet app introduces a new Preauthorized Payments section, consolidating all subscriptions and payment plans in one place. Users can access this by tapping the three dots in the upper right corner of Wallet and selecting Preauthorized Payments. Apple News will soon have a new Food section, providing subscribers access to recipes from various publications such as Food & Wine and Good Food.
This section includes offline access, a cook mode for easy recipe navigation, and additional content on restaurants and healthy eating tips. The iOS 18.4 RC brings exciting new features and improvements to Apple’s ecosystem, enhancing the user experience with more personalized and practical tools. Developers and public beta testers can explore these updates now, with the general public release just around the corner in April.
Photo by; Medhat Dawoud on Unsplash
